STOICISM

STOICISM: THE ART OF LIVING AS A FREE PERSON

This study is dedicated to my own personal hero, Nelson Mandela! Mandela was the most amazing person to have ever lived. He is an inspiration to us all and everyone should read ‘The Long Walk to Freedom’!

There is no need for us to conform to irrational expectations and external pressures. Neither do we need to chase accomplishments in the hope of building a legacy. None of us these things last. All that matters is we live life on our own terms. It is the only way we can truly say that we have lived a good life.

‘The only worthy goal in life is freedom. It is won by disregarding those things that lie outside of our control.’ Epictetus

For 28 years on the Prison Colony Robben Island, off the coast of South Africa, Nelson Mandela worked in a rock quarry in the blazing South African heat and at night was confined in a 6 by 6ft cell with only a floor mat and one chair. Apparently he had a book on Stoicism. So how do you survive 28 years of this? By disregarding those things that lie beyond his control.

He said that every time he wanted to just lie down and die, his book on Stoicism and the quote by Epictetus saved him. He was also inspired by an old Victorian poem.

But after 28 years of this, he said: ‘As I walked towards the door that would lead me to freedom, I knew that if I didn’t leave my anger and bitterness behind, I would still be in prison.’

The very moment that he had a choice, he exercised free will. His attitude he could control. He came out, ended apartheid and became the first African president. They did not kill his spirit. He remained the Master of His Destiny and the Captain of his Soul.

That is unbelievable courage, wisdom and integrity.

‘The universal order and the personal order are nothing but different expressions and manifestations of a common underlying principle. Whatever the universal order assigned to any man at any time is for the good of that man at that time.” Marcus Aurelius

PROLOGUE STOICISM: CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE, CHANGE YOUR LIFE! DEALING WITH ADVERSITIES

Life is complex. Each of us must make his or her own path through life. There are no self-help manuals, no formulas, no easy answers. But, if we know exactly where we are going, exactly how to get there, and exactly what we’ll see along the way, we won’t learn anything.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life. Where you stumble, there lies your treasure. Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging.

Whenever we seek to avoid responsibility for our own behavior, we do so by attempting to give that responsibility to some other individual, organization, or entity. But this means we then give away our power to that which is in the whole process of meeting and solving problems that life has meaning.

Life is difficult. This is a great truth; one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult- once we truly understand and accept it- then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.

‘What really frightens and disturbs us is not external events themselves but the way in which we think about them. It is not things that disturb us, but our interpretation of their significance.’ Epictetus

STOICISM: VALUES : ‘The values of fairness, of integrity and honesty, of human dignity; the principle of service to others, the striving for excellence and the principle of potential; that we can grow and develop more and more talents.

These are natural laws that are woven into the fabric of every civilized society throughout history and comprise the roots of every family and institution that has endured and prospered. These values are part of every enduring religious tradition, as well as enduring social philosophies and ethical systems throughout the history of human civilization. Stephen Covey

There is a reason that Stoicism has endured and stood the test of time as a philosophy and ethical system! We do not have a lot of control over what happens in life, but we do and we must choose a set of values that we hold near and dear to our hearts. We do get to choose our values.

If we are going to relate to others successfully, we need a sense of perspective and a clear idea about what is important in the long run. This often means that we have to let go of rigid ideas and fixed positions on a wide variety of things; especially our own values and perceptions.

STOICISM: HISTORICAL CONTEXT : Stoicism was a religious-ethical thought or philosophy which emerged in the 4th Century B.C.E. which influenced thought and behavior for centuries, teaching practitioners to fortify their souls against the harshness of life. The founder of Stoicism was Zeno who taught the worthlessness of worldly goods and the importance of individual virtue or a set of sacrosanct values. Everyone from peasants to rulers should pursue their vocation honestly and seriously and to the best of their abilities.

What is significant is not individual accomplishment but effort. A person can lose their freedom, their property to outside circumstances, but they can only lose their virtue, their most important possession by their own will. Surprisingly, out of this doctrine emerges not individualism but cosmopolitanism- the idea of an encompassing human community.

According to its teachings, as social beings, the path to happiness is found in accepting this moment, as it presents itself, by not allowing ourselves to be controlled by our desires or passions, or our fear of pain, using our minds to understand the world around us and to do our part in nature’s plan, and by working together and treating others in a fair and just manner. The Stoics thought that the best indication of an individual ‘s virtue was not what a person said, but how a person behaved; i.e. your virtues and deeds sets an example for others.

Move forward as occasion offers. Never look around to see whether any shall note it. Be satisfied with success even in the smallest matter, and think that such a result is no trifle. Adapt yourself to the things among which your lot has been cast and love sincerely the fellow creatures with whom destiny has ordained that you shall live.’ Marcus Aurelius

Seneca and Epictetus emphasized that virtue was sufficient for happiness. So a sage, or a wise person was immune from misfortune, or more precisely did not allow misfortune to disturb one’s peace of mind.

“Here is the rule to remember in the future: When anything tempts you to be bitter, say not ‘This is a misfortune’ but ‘to bear this worthily is good fortune.” Marcus Aurelius

From its beginnings, Stoic doctrine was popular in the Roman Empire and its adherents included the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. It experienced a decline after Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire in the 4th Century C.E. This is when Christianity as an institution began to tear away from the actual teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Man had committed ‘original sin’ in the Garden of Eden and tossed out of Paradise

Epictetus states, ‘Philosophy does not promise to secure anything external for man, otherwise it would be admitting something that lies beyond its proper subject matter. For as the material of the carpenter is wood, and that of statuary bronze, so the subject matter of the art of living is each person’s own life.’

What does this teach us about Stoicism? First and foremost, it is saying it is not a religion, in the sense that there is no god, or set of gods that command us to follow a certain set of precepts or ‘golden rules’ to hinder the ‘Art of Living.’ There is however, a seam of dialogue that mentions the Universal Order or Nature.

THE FOUR STOIC VIRTUES: Some of us continue to search for a deeper truth. The path to ultimate reality takes hard work and practice. If we value truth and reality, we chip away at falsehoods, both large and subtle in our lives. This also applies to living a virtuous life; do not distinguish between small and large. We all know , in our hearts. What is right and what is wrong

STOIC VIRTUE ONE : JUSTICE OR DOING THE RIGHT THING: It is a common misperception that we need an omnipotent God to give us rules or virtues and values. If you look at most Monotheistic religions, they are the most immoral people on the planet. Our conscience knows what is right and what is wrong. It comes from love for our fellow beings and Nature and all its Beauty.

STOIC VIRTUE TWO: COURAGE: Courage is not the absence of fear, but feeling the fear and doing it anyway. Life has its challenges. We must meet them head on and continue to grow. Many people are stuck: stuck in a job they hate, a toxic relationship even with an abusive partner. It has been my own experience that people fear change. They would much rather have suffering that they are familiar with, than the pain of doing something courageous and beginning anew. Sometimes, we have to take a leap of faith.

Inaction is not only the result, but the cause of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps other actions or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all.

Believe in yourself. Have faith in your abilities. Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you can’t be successful or happy. Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find they haven’t half the strength you thought they had. Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence.

STOIC VIRTUE THREE : MODERATION : The life of inner peace; being harmonious and without stress is the easiest type of existence. Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find they haven’t half the strength you thought they had. We struggle with the complexities and avoid the simplicities. When the path is clear, why do you hurl stones before you?

STOIC VIRTUE FOUR : WISDOM

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change

The courage to change the things I can

And the wisdom to know the difference.

And there is the crux of the matter. If we take Epictetus, ‘The only worthy goal in life is freedom. It is won by disregarding those things that lie outside of our control.’ Epictetus

The wisdom to know what lies beyond our control and what is on our control (our attitude, our deeds, thoughts, and words) is essentially the essence of the Dichotomy of Control

As humans, we are capable of growth through self-discipline, love, and experience. Our understanding of the world, and our place in the world grows apace. Conversely, some people fail to grow in self-discipline, love, and life experiences: ergo their understanding fails to grow.

Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties. The quest for certainty blocks the search for meaning. Uncertainty is the very condition to impel man to unfold his powers.

Understanding the world and our place in it, is the essence of Stoicism. It’s a universal understanding. Everyone, no matter how limited, primitive or inaccurate their understanding of the world is, has moral responsibility for their own words, actions and deeds.

The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the world; to match your nature with Nature. The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are. Your sacred space is where you find yourself again and again.

STOIC PRACTICE ONE: THE DICHOTOMY OF CONTROL : The dichotomy of control is a central tenet of Stoicism, a philosophy pioneered by Epictetus in his Discourses. It proposes that understanding and distinguishing what we can and cannot control is fundamental to achieving tranquility and wisdom. Epictetus is my favorite Stoic.

Wisdom is knowing what lies beyond our control (the serenity to accept the things I cannot change), what is within our control (the courage to change the things I can!) and the wisdom to know the difference! Any one who has ever been involved in a recovery or twelve step program, knows this as the serenity prayer. The wisdom to know the difference.

Finally, Wisdom is one of the Four Stoic Virtues. And to be honest, I was worried about how to describe Wisdom. Well, I have studied Nelson Mandela’s life and have killed two birds with one stone: to define both Wisdom and the Dichotomy of Control. Wisdom is knowing the difference between those things that lie outside of our control and what lies within our control.

STOIC PRACTICE TWO : TIME IS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT ASSET : Time is our most important asset. Don’t squander it. We’re dealing with a limited time frame here, so we need to manage our time well. My time left on Planet Earth is more limited than most! Again, it is essential to figure out for ourselves what is important and what isn’t: how we manage our time.

‘We’re tight-fisted with property and money, yet we think too little of wasting time, the one thing about which we should all be the toughest misers.’ Seneca

Nothing is more important in life than your time. We may think it is our relationships, accomplishments, our accumulation of wealth, but as you age, you begin to realise that nothing is more important than your limited time here on earth. We’re working within a limited time- frame. So, choose carefully how you spend your time and what you spend your time on. Seek balance in the hours of the day. Living in the present moment gives you more time.

Those who squander this scarce resource on minutia or entertainment will find that they have nothing to show for it in the end. The habit of procrastination and putting things off will come back to haunt us. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. ‘Nothing endures but change.’ Heraclitus

Calendars and schedules were meant to help us. We should not become slaves to them. Regardless of which end of the spectrum we fall into, time is of the essence. We think we have a lot of time, but we really don’t. And nobody realizes this more than I do as I have entered my ‘Twilight Years’.

Once lost, time cannot be replaced. Here are some of the things that I waste time on.

Worrying about things that lie beyond my control: It all comes down to an inability to live in the present moment. When we look back at our failures, or worry about future scenarios (usually bad) we are wasting time. Que sera, sera! Whatever will be, will be.

Procrastination: Procrastination is the thief of time! We waste so much time worrying about things that we don’t want to do. The pragmatic approach is to do the very next thing that needs to be done.

PRACTICE THREE: DON’T OUTSOURCE YOUR HAPPINESS “I have often wondered how it is that every man loves himself more than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinions of himself than on the opinions of others.” — Marcus Aurelius

Much of what we do stems from our primal need to be liked and accepted by others. Disapproval from our social group had serious repercussions in the past. It would have likely meant exile and eventually death in the wilderness.

That’s still true to some extent today. But how much time and effort do we spend trying to win the approval of others? What is it costing us?

We spend money we don’t have, to buy fancy things we don’t need, in order to impress someone we don’t care about. Our choice of career or lifestyle is centred around how others perceive us, rather than what is best for us. We are held hostage and pay a king’s ransom every day, with no guarantee that we will ever be free.

In contrast, the Roman statesman Cato sought to lead a life that was independent of the opinion of others. He would wear the most outlandish of outfits and walk in the streets without putting on shoes. It was his way of accustoming himself to be ashamed only of what deserves shame, and to despise all other sorts of disgrace.

That was the only way in which he could stand up to Julius Caesar, whom he recognised was consolidating too much power. It enabled him to make the big decisions when it counted, without fear of disapproval.

STOIC PRACTICE FOUR: LET GO OF THE OUTCOME: Whatever you try to accomplish in life, if you hold on too tight- if everything is riding on a positive outcome- you inevitably will frack it up. It doesn’t mean you don’t give it your best- but if you are worried about the outcome- you can’t give it your best. You’re too busy worrying and obsessing over how things will turn out.

If you are collaborating with others on a group project, this causes you to not pay attention- so that when you’re dealing with other people, first, you’re not really listening to what they are telling you and you’re unable to effectively communicate with them in turn.

Furthermore, if you’re filled with anxiety and angst, the negative vibes are immediately felt by others. Secondly, you miss opportunities because your perspective is so narrow and confined to one definite outcome. Again, it all boils down to an inability to pay attention and to concentrate on the task at hand. A narrow perspective also stifles creativity and greatly restricts the ability to realize new possibilities and recognize opportunities.

Life’s a mystery. Anything is possible, especially if you expend time and effort towards particular goals. But, contrary to what the positive thinking spin-doctors postulate, it does not necessarily mean that what you desire will come to pass. It’s not impossible. But we need to let go of the outcomes of our efforts.

When our efforts seem futile, we can trust that in another time and place there may be unexpected results. When we’re trying to address a problem, help a friend, improve the world, it might appear to be going nowhere. Yet, our actions are like planting seeds in the ground. We are not exactly sure if they will bear fruit and what looks like failure may only be a period of gestation. Our work towards the good may be sustained if we don’t measure the success or failure of our actions by the immediate and superficial results. In Buddhism this is karma or as I like to call it, sowing the seeds of love.

STOIC PRACTICE FIVE: STAY FOCUSED WHEN CONFRONTED WITH DISTRACTIONS

‘If a person doesn’t know to which port they sail, no wind is favorable.’ Seneca

Modern-day capitalism has given us an abundance of options. Whether it’s food, travel, or entertainment, we have far more to work with than our predecessors did. Yet, this hasn’t clearly benefited us. When presented with so many options, we become paralysed by indecision. This is known as the paradox of choice. Our brains haven’t been able to keep up with modern day advances and are overwhelmed when presented with so much information. Because it’s so difficult to make a choice,

It’s one of the core problems we face in our daily lives. With so many options, we never really commit to a path. We either put off making a decision or pursue multiple activities all at once. The result is that we never really make headway into anything at all. The Stoics emphasised the need for purposeful action. We must take care not to merely react to our circumstances, but to live intentionally.

STOIC PRACTICE SIX: ACCEPTANCE: Life is difficult, life is always difficult and is full of pain and joy. Yet it is this whole process that life has its meaning. Problems are at the cutting edge that distinguishes between success and failure. Problems call forth our courage and our wisdom ; indeed, they create our courage and our wisdom. It is only because of problems that we grow mentally and spiritually.

‘Here is the rule to remember in the future: When anything tempts you to be bitter, say not ‘This is a misfortune’ but ‘to bear this worthily is good fortune. Nothing happens to any man that he is not formed by nature to bear. Nothing happens to any person but what is in his power to bear.’ Marcus Aurelius

Most of us are not so wise. Fearing the pain involved we attempt to avoid problems. We procrastinate hoping they will go away. We ignore them, forget them, pretend they don’t exist. This leads to addiction: alcohol, drugs, gambling and our smartphones by deadening ourselves in order to forget them.

I have come to learn that peace of mind cannot be achieved by the absence of conflict and heartbreak. It is acquired by the acceptance of conflict and heartbreak.

Don’t let external events control the state of your mind. We have the power to be happy regardless of our circumstances. In other words, control your thoughts and you can control your well-being. It’s not our experiences that cause us pain, it’s our attitude towards them. Again, it’s essential to note that there is a difference between pain and suffering. In life, pain is inevitable. But suffering, on the other hand, is our reaction or resistance to the inevitable pain of living our lives.

If we take each loss, each gain, each fear, and each joy as it arises and experience it fully, life becomes workable. We are no longer a ‘victim of life’. And then, every experience, even the loss of our dearest ones, becomes another opportunity for awakening.

‘Pain alone is not the enemy; fear and resistance are the real enemy.’ The Buddha

‘For what prevents us from saying that the happy life is to have a mind that is free, lofty, fearless and steadfast- a mind that is placed beyond the reach of fear, beyond the reach of desire, that counts virtue the only good, baseness the only evil, and all else but a worthless mass of things, which come and go without increasing or diminishes the highest good, and neither subtract any part from a happy life nor add any part to it?’ Seneca

STOIC PRACTICE SEVEN: STAND YOUR GROUND ‘In doing nothing men learn to do evil.’ — Cato

In a profession that is often based on compromise, Cato was stubborn and steadfast in his beliefs. He was taught that there were no shades of grey. All virtues were one and the same virtue, all vices the same vice.

It seems like an unreasonably high standard. It’s undeniable that many feats have only been made possible through compromise. Yet it seems that the pendulum has swung too far today: we forgo our principles in the name of tolerance or for profit. Above we talked about values. We need to choose wisely a set of inviolable values that we should never compromise on, for money, reputation, success. Don’t sell out.

STOIC PRACTICE EIGHT : KEEP GOOD COMPANY Eventually, we may come to realize that some of our closest acquaintances are simply playing a game of pretend as we listen to them gossip and complain and chase after vain pursuits. The antidote for that is to remove ourselves from the circle of these acquaintances. If they are gossiping about someone who is not present and you leave, who are they trashing now?

Others, we may come to realize have a deep, hidden inner beauty and wholeheartedness that we have up to now, failed to notice.

Paying attention or being fully present with others really helps. Be a good listener, and you will learn a lot. Ask open-ended questions and let the other person tell you their stories. It is surprising what you will learn. Don’t be pushed by the need to impress or say something intelligent or witty.

You will soon learn what kind of acquaintances are worth cultivating and which acquaintances you may want to simply let slide away. Avoid people who complain or are judgmental and in the name of all that’s holy, avoid people with certain views.

‘The key is to keep company only with people that uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.’ Epictetus

STOIC PRACTICE NUMBER NINE: DIE BEFORE YOU DIE ‘Think of the life you have lived until now as over and, as a dead man, see what’s left as a bonus and live according to Nature. Love the hand that fate deals you and play it as your own, for whatever could be more fulfilling. You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.’ Marcus Aurelius

‘Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides. If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you are not afraid of dying, there is nothing you cannot achieve.’ Zhuang Zhou

No-birth and no-death is a Buddhist concept that teaches us about impermanence. Time always marches forward, so we get older. Eventually we will have to abandon this body. If we also see the interconnectedness of all life, then we become impervious to the fear of the unknown! What happens when the body dies? It’s a mystery!

‘Throughout the whole life one must continue to learn to live and what will amaze you even more, throughout life one must learn to die.’ Seneca

Jack Kornfield relates how his teacher Ajahn Chah in the Thai Forest Monastery would hold up a beautiful cup and say, ‘You see this beautiful tea cup?I can truly appreciate it because I know that someday it will be broken and that makes it more precious to me. It is impermanent like we are.’

‘When we recognize that, just like the glass, our body is already broken, that indeed we are already dead, then life becomes precious and we open to it, just as it is, in the moment that is occurring. Our children, mates, fiends, how precious they become. How little fear can interpose: how little doubt can estrange us. When you live as if you are already dead, like takes on new meaning.’ Stephen Levine

And so long as you haven’t experienced

This; to die and so grow,

We are only a troubled guest

On the dark earth. Goethe

‘Our priorities change, our heart opens, and our mind begins to clear off the old holdings and pretensions. We watch all life in transit and what matters becomes instantly apparent: the transmission of love, the letting go of obstacles to understanding, the relinquishment of our grasping, of our hiding from ourselves. Seeing the mercilessness of our self-strangulation, we begin to come gently into the light we share with all beings.’ Stephen Levine

In regard to giving up one’s self, what Buddhists call non-self nature, may seem to us as a cruel joke which never can be accepted fully. This attitude is particularly true in present-day Western culture, in which the self is held sacred and death is considered an unspeakable insult. Yet the exact opposite is the reality. It is in the giving up of self that human beings can find the most ecstatic and lasting, solid, durable joy of life.

‘Shrinking away from death is something unhealthy and abnormal which robs the second half of life of its purposes. The greatest and most important problems of life are all fundamentally unsolvable. They can never be solved but outgrown. We deem those happy who from the experience of life have learnt to bear its ills without being overcome by them.’ Carl Jung

As I have come to accept the state of my own mortality, I only find joy and solace in the great outdoors. Somehow, the peace, beauty, and stillness of nature obliterates all traces of my bewildered self and my soul, and alive in the mystery, is at peace.’ R.W. Emerson

We must practice resurrection; and this is an everyday practice. With an in-breath you bring your mind back to your body. Then, joy, gratitude, and peace of mind are possible. You have an appointment with life, an appointment with the here and now.‘

STOIC PRACTICE TEN: CONSOLIDATE YOUR THOUGHTS IN WRITING ‘No man was ever wise by chance— Seneca Of the many things we can do daily, none are as important as looking inward. The act of self-reflection forces us to question ourselves and examine our own assumptions of the world. It’s how the answers to some of the world’s biggest questions have surfaced.

Keeping a journal remains one of the most effective ways for mindfulness. It boosts creativity, increases gratitude, and serves as therapy all at once. The benefits are numerous. Your thoughts and feelings become clearer in writing than in your mind.

The Stoics were well aware of that. The most powerful man in the Roman empire, Marcus Aurelius would dutifully take the time to record his observations and feelings whether at war or in peace. It’s what we know today as the Meditations by Aurelius. His work has withstood the test of time.

While everyone from athletes to entrepreneurs benefit from Marcus Aurelius’ wisdom today, it is clear that the biggest beneficiary of his writing and thinking was himself. The clarity of thought and accountability brought by his journal kept him virtuous when anyone in his position would have likely erred and become a tyrant.

STOIC PRACTICE ELEVEN : IMAGINE THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN : This is called premeditatio malorum could be translated as ‘premeditation of evils’ or the worst possible thing that could happen when embarking on doing something which is difficult like giving a public speech.

Much has been said about the power of positive thinking in recent times. We are taught that optimism and affirmations are the key to leading a happier life. But that’s not what the Stoics believed. They felt that this practice invited passivity into our daily lives. It encourages us to simply hope for things to get better instead of taking concrete action. Rather than deny the harsh realities of life, they decided to embrace it.

In its essence, this practice is simply a matter of looking at life in a perspective. Is our whole life riding on this? In the long run will it even matter?

STOIC PRACTICE TWELVE: KNOW YOURSELF. In life we judge every single experience that we have. There’s an inner dialogue judging everything as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ or ‘for’ or ‘against’. Life is meant to be experienced, not judged. It comes from a deeper place inside that has not been taught the skills of living in the present moment. You can’t truly experience, experience, just as you can’t find meaning by looking for meaning.

‘You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life. But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads? You cannot create experience. You must undergo it. Nobody realizes that some people expend enormous amounts of energy merely to be normal.’ Albert Camus

And strangely but more accurately be aware that there is a limitation in what you do know. Socrates knew this as did Lao Tzu. It doesn’t mean we can’t learn. ‘Know yourself’ was Socrates’ Mantra. He used to parade around the streets of Athens proclaiming to all who would listen: ‘Know yourself!’ One day, another philosopher confronted Socrates: ‘Do you know yourself, Socrates?’ Socrates replied, ‘No, but I know of this not knowing’ Lao Tzu essentially says the same thing in the Tao: ‘to know of not-knowing’.

The more I learn, the less I know. Others have their belief systems locked and loaded and are damn certain that their belief system is the right one and since you don’t ascribe to their belief systems, you are the enemy. To know ourselves is to know the limitations of our own knowledge and our own opinions and viewpoints and to constantly reevaluate our beliefs, conceptions and perceptions as well as the opinions of others. With me, the more I learn, the more I become cognizant of my own ignorance.

‘Throw out your conceited opinions, for it is impossible for a person to begin to learn what he thinks he already knows.’ Epictetus

STOIC PRACTICE THIRTEEN: LIVING IN THE PRESENT MOMENT

Look lovingly upon the present, for it holds the only things that are forever true. All healing lies within it. The miracle comes quietly into the mind that stops an instant and is still.

There are three events in a person’s life: Birth, Life, and Death. We are not aware of being born, we die in pain, and we forget to live.

‘Life is very short and anxious for those who regret the past, neglect the present, and fear the future.’ Epictetus

To die is poignantly bitter, but the idea of having to die without having lived is unbearable. Most people die before they are born. Creativeness means to be born before one dies. If I am what I have, and I lose what I have, then what am I ?

The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the world; to match your nature with Nature. The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are. Your sacred space is where you find yourself again and again.

As difficult as it is, we must continue practicing in the present moment. We are caught in the past and the future, so learning to be present is liberating, even if it’s for a brief time each day.

‘There exists Only the present instant: a Now which always and without end is itself new. There is no yesterday, and no tomorrow, but only Now as it was a thousand years ago, and a thousand years hence.’ Meister Eckhart 13th Century Christian Mystic

The secret to life is the realization that living in the present moment gives us more time. If you have ever been in nature alone for a period of time, you will eventually feel as if time stands still. And it does. Why? Because you have slipped from ‘thinking’ mode as your inner dialogue blows you around from an endless stream of inner dialogue, and into the eternity of ‘being’ mode. The suspension of thought is to just ‘be’ and it gives us more time.

Being held in Mother Earth’s tender embrace helps us to slow down long enough to look at our own lives, and the lives of others. And what you end up with is unconditional love for all beings. I think the reason this is so is because beauty makes you ache to be worthy of it.

The miracle of mindfulness is that you are here; for yourself, for the ones you love. How can you love if you’re not here? It is enough to breathe and let go of thinking and planning. Just come back to yourself, concentrate on your breath and smile. Body and mind together, you are here and completely alive. Life is only accessible in the here and now.

STOIC PRACTICE FOURTEEN: GRATITUDE

‘When you arise in the morning, think of what a privilege it is to be alive: to think, to love, to breathe, to enjoy. Each day brings its own gifts. Let not your mind run on what you lack as much as on what you already have.’ Marcus Aurelius

Gratitude is an appreciation of all that sustains us; an acknowledgement of blessings great and small. It is confidence in life itself and confidence in ourselves and our ability to manage our own lives. The same force that causes all things to grow on this planet are within us.

We exist because every single one of our ancestors from the beginning of the first man was a survivor and cared and nurtured their young and passed down to us valuable knowledge that would sustain us in life.

‘Be content with what you have. Rejoice in the way things are. When you realize nothing is lacking, the whole world belongs to you. He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough. If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you can live this way, then there is nothing you cannot achieve.’ Lao Tzu

As gratitude grows, it gives rise to joy. We experience the courage to rejoice in our own good fortune and in the good fortune of others. In joy, we are not afraid of pleasure. We do not mistakenly believe that it is disloyal to the suffering of the world to honor the blessings we’ve been given. Joy gladdens the heart.

‘Gratitude arises from paying attention, from being awake in the presence of everything that lives within us and without us.’ David Whyte

PRACTICE NUMBER FIFTEEN : DON’T COMPARE OR COMPETE: Don’t let your happiness depend on the opinions of others. Be your own true person. It’s been almost a year here on Sub Stack and I have never read anyone else’s work or writing nor have I followed anyone. It’s not because I think I’m such a great writer, but I want to use my own voice: my authentic voice. I never compare my writing with other authors. I sit down and say, ‘Let’s write better than we did yesterday.’

‘Move forward as occasion offers. Never look around to see whether any shall note it. Be satisfied with success even in the smallest matter, and think that such a result is no trifle.’ Marcus Aurelius

PRACTICE NUMBER SIXTEEN: GIVING AND HELPING OTHERS

‘Adapt yourself to the things among which your lot has been cast and love sincerely the fellow creatures with whom destiny has ordained that you shall live.’ Marcus Aurelius

‘There is no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to helping others without expecting anything in return. What counts is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.’ Nelson Mandela

‘Giving is the highest expression of potency. In the very act of giving, I experience my wealth, my power, and my strength. This experience of heightened vitality and potency fills me with joy. I experience myself as overflowing, spending, alive, hence, as joyous. Giving is more joyous than receiving, not because it is a deprivation, but because in the act of giving lies the expression of my aliveness’ Erich Fromm

‘A hero or heroine is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves and our own self-preservation, we undergo a truly heroic transformation of consciousness. Find a place inside where there is joy, and the joy will burn out the pain. Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.’ Joseph Campbell

PRACTICE NUMBER THIRTEEN : DELAYING OF GRATIFICATION

Everybody wants everything now. Our smartphones actually feed the need for instant gratification. But any worthy effort requires patience and often a good deal of effort. No pain, no gain.

There are no shortcuts to hard work and effort. To do so, we need to be capable of delaying gratification. Whatever your task, hard work and effort will be required to make a better life for yourself and your loved ones. In today’s culture people want instant gratification. The practice of delaying gratification is important to cultivate change for the better.

PRACTICE NUMBER FOURTEEN: FREE WILL

COMPATIBILISM: Compatibilism offers a solution to the free will problem which concerns a dispute between free will and determinism. It is, in essence, the thesis that free will is compatible with determinism because free will is taken to be a necessary condition of moral responsibility. There are many things that we cannot control in life. But what we can control is how we respond ( not react ) to the inevitable sound of the excrement hitting the proverbial fan yet again. We also get to choose what virtues, morals and values that we hold as sacrosanct and near and dear to our hearts.

The prevailing thought common today with most intellectuals is that we, as humans, have no free will. I watched a discussion between Richard Dawkins and Brian Greene, the astrophysicist who is still working on proving string theory that would allow for multiverses. Free will was mentioned and they both agreed that we had no free will because of the Big Bang!

So because of the laws of mathematics and physics everything has been predetermined. How is that any different than religion? That God, being omnipotent and omniscient- because of this belief everything, including whether we go to heaven or hell has been preordained. This is the belief of most evangelical Christians.

On the matter of free will, Greene says, ‘You’re just a bag of particles controlled by physics.’ and ‘There is no place for us to supersede in the mathematical unfolding of these strings that are pulling us that are governed by the laws of physics.’ Astrophysicist Brian Greene.

When Greene says "There is no place for us to supersede in the mathematical unfolding of ‘these strings that are pulling us’ that are governed by the laws of physics.” Is this an intentional metaphor for a puppet? The hubris! Yes Dawkins and Greene, the mathematical equations make us puppets.

That’s all we are? A mathematical equation, or the big bang! Well, Greene still has not managed to prove his ‘string theory’ and I supposed that Dawkins and his remaking Darwinism in his Magnum Opus The Selfish Gene, is content to rest on his laurels and is still wandering the dusty hallowed halls of academia.

‘It’s time you realized that you have something in you more powerful and miraculous than the things that affect you and make you dance like a puppet’ Seneca

‘Nothing in my way of thinking is a better proof of a well ordered mind than a man’s ability to stop and pass some time in his own company.’ Seneca

I realize that we have very little free will about outside events or even things that happen to us. But we do get to choose how we respond to what life has handed us. Ya got to play the hand you’ve been dealt. So your attitude to life is key to Stoicism. Therein lies your freedom.

‘Emotions and ritualized behavior are built deeply into us. They are part of our humanity. But they are not characteristically human. Many other animals have feelings. What distinguishes our species is thought. The cerebral cortex is a liberation. We need no longer be trapped in the genetically inherited behavior patterns of lizards and baboons. We are, each of us, largely responsible for what gets put into our brains, for what, as adults, we wind up caring for and knowing about. No longer at the mercy of the reptile brain, we can change ourselves.’ Carl Sagan

In 1944 Viktor Frankl and the surviving members of his family were transported to Auschwitz, where his mother and brother were murdered in the gas chambers. His wife, Tilly died of typhus in Bergen Belsen. Viktor survived and wrote a book ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ which speaks of his experience in the Nazi concentration camps. Here is a small excerpt.

“The experiences of camp life show that a man does have a choice of action. They were enough examples, often of a heroic nature, which proved that apathy could be overcome, irritability suppressed. Man can preserve a vestige of spiritual freedom, of independence of mind, even in such terrible conditions of psychic and physical stress.

We who lived in the camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken away from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms- to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s way, the way in which a man accepts his fate, and all the suffering that it entails, the way in which he takes up his cross, gives him ample opportunity- even in the most difficult circumstances- to add a deeper meaning to life.” Viktor Frankl

It would be a travesty to utter another word at this point. Thanks for listening! Stay strong! Be kind to one another. It’s all we need. Kindness!

INVICTUS

Out of the night that covers me

Black as a pit from pole to pole

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

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In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud

Under the bludgeoning of chance

My head is bloody but unbowed.

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Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms the horror of the shade.

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and still finds me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate

How charged with punishment the scroll.

I am the Master of my Fate

I am the Captain of My Soul